Africa-Press – Cape verde. Siacsa announced for Friday a demonstration by 200 former Frescomar employees, dismissed at the beginning of the year, and draws the Government’s attention to the creation of mechanisms that allow the company to operate on the island.
The Union of Industry, General Services, Food, Civil Construction, Agriculture, Private Security and Maritime and Port Services (Siacsa) on the island of São Vicente, through its coordinator, Heidy Andrade, ensured that the dismissal of workers from the canning company was met with everyone by surprise.
“These workers will protest on the streets of the city their revolts over these dismissals that took everyone by surprise at the beginning of the year, remembering that more than 200 people started the new year with a letter of dismissal”, the coordinator announced at a press conference.
In addition to the announcement of “amicable” termination of contracts, “there are reports” of former employees complaining of pressure from the aforementioned company, with no option for a counter-offer.
“The staff have no understanding of what the law says and they said that the company put the agreements in front of them and told them that if they didn’t sign, they would go into collective dismissal and would only receive half the value”, found Heidy Andrade, who says she had attention was drawn to the company to provide the document and a deadline to consult a lawyer before signing.
However, the problem, according to this union member, lies in the conditions for acquiring raw materials for production by the aforementioned company, in order to safeguard the 202 contracts that have now been terminated.
One of the factors that led to the layoffs is the situation of the company Atunlo at “risk of closing down its activities and carrying out collective dismissals” in the face of bankruptcy and closure in Europe.
“Frescomar, depending on this derivative of unfulfilled agreements, such as fish treatment and supply of fish by Atunlo to Frescomar, made it impossible to maintain certain contracts”, explained Heidy Ganeto.
The problem described comes from the “lack of guarantees” of means created by the Government through proposals to equip national shipowners so that they can sail further, in search of raw materials that feed the industry and allow jobs to be maintained.
“It is urgent to provide shipowners with conditions that can compete with foreign boats and sustain an industry that until then is hostage to renewed derogation agreements at the mercy of the will of the European Union, which can grant them or not”, lamented the coordinator.
In this way, the union calls on the Government to create mechanisms that allow the fishing industry to operate on the island so that shipowners can meet the demand necessary for the proper functioning of Frescomar.
The demonstration will take place at Praça Dom Luís at 10:00 and will run through the streets of the city.
For More News And Analysis About Cape verde Follow Africa-Press
